4 Tips to Becoming a Truck Driver

Choosing a career can be difficult, especially when you’re just starting out. It can be a thought provoking task that can even happen after years at what you thought would be a life-long career. Luckily, when you choose a trucking career, you can start at any time in your life, you just need to be ready. Whether you’re 18 or 39, the steps to become a truck driver are the same. Take a look and see where you can start working toward becoming a truck driver.

Keep a clean driving recordParking tickets are not a huge deal, but tickets for reckless driving are a problem, especially if the ticket is a DUI. Companies need to know they can rely on you get freight from point A to point B without any incident. Having a clean record gives you the chance to show that you’re reliable.

Complete high school or get your GEDIt’s a known fact that having your degree takes you further in life. Much like any other company, Sewell Motor Express prefers to hire candidates with an education because it sets you up to succeed in your career.

Get your commercial drivers licenseThere are federal guidelines for CDL requirements, but each state has its own rules. You’ll need to check with the DMV for specific laws in your state to know what you need to pass. In general, you’ll need to pass a written exam about laws and equipment, conduct a pre-trip vehicle inspection and demonstrate your driving skills. The best way to do this is to attend a driving school. It isn’t free, but it will make the process much easier.

Pass the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation examThe FMCSR exam has both a written and physical (hearing and sight) component, and you’ll need to pass both. Once you pass the written you’ll never have to do it again. As for the physical exam, you’ll need to pass it once every two years.

There are a lot of schools out there that can help you go through the process of getting your CDL. The American Trucking Association (ATA) is also a great source of information to get you started. Once you have everything acquired to become a truck driver, contact Sewell Motor Express and get ready to start your career.